Ionic liquids for transdermal drug delivery

ABSTRACT

The compositions and methods described herein are topically applied to the skin with negligible or no skin irritation and can direct or prevent transport through the skin. The compositions contain neat ionic liquids, optionally in combination with a drug to be delivered. In a preferred embodiment, the compositions increase transdermal transport of the drug to be delivered. In some embodiments, the compositions disrupt bacterial biofilms. This is particularly beneficial in the treatment of antibiotic resistant skin infections. In other embodiments, the compositions direct delivery within the skin. In still other embodiments, the compositions prevent transfer of substances through the stratum corneum. The disclosed compositions and methods can be tuned and modified such that they can be used to treat or prevent a variety of different diseases and disorders.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to provisional application, U.S.Application No. 61/899,294, filed Nov. 3, 2013, the disclosure of whichis incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention is transdermal drug delivery formulations,and topically administered formulations, such as for the treatment ofinfections, and methods for making and using these formulations anddevices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Topical and transdermal drug delivery provide many advantages over othercommon delivery routes like oral, subcutaneous, and intravenous. Theseadvantages include avoidance of major degradative pathways associatedwith the GI tract, reduction in side effects associated with systemictoxicity, and needle-free drug administration. Brown, et al., “Dermaland transdermal drug delivery systems: current and future prospects”,Drug Delivery, 13:175-87 (2006). Unfortunately, the outermost layer ofthe skin, the stratum corneum (SC), functions as a barrier to mostforeign material and severely limits passive diffusion of manymolecules. To overcome this barrier, several strategies have beenemployed including the use of chemical penetration enhancers (CPEs).CPEs have been shown to enhance transport through the skin, for avariety of molecules, by disrupting the lipid composition andorganization in the SC. Karande, et al., “Design principles of chemicalpenetration enhancers for transdermal drug delivery”, Proceedings of theNational Academy of Sciences of the United States of America,102:4688-93 (2005). However, the extent of lipid disruption oftencorrelates closely with skin irritation. Karande 2005. Therefore, abalance between transport enhancement and skin irritation is oftenrequired before a CPE-based drug formulation can be commercialized.

Concurrently, for the treatment of bacterial skin infections, a secondtransport barrier to drug delivery exists—the bacterial biofilm.Biofilm-protected bacteria account for 65% of bacterial infections inhumans and are 50-500 times more resistant to antibiotics thanunprotected bacteria. Palmer, et al., “Molecular techniques to detectbiofilm bacteria in long bone nonunion: a case report”, Clinicalorthopaedics and related research, 469:3037-42 (2011). The antibioticresistance is due to the transport barrier posed by extracellularpolymeric substances (EPS), e.g. polysaccharides, humic acids andnucleic acids. Although the chemical composition of the SC and bacterialbiofilm are distinctive, overcoming the transport barrier posed by theSC and biofilm can be accomplished in a similar manner, such as throughfluidization or extraction of the barrier components by a suitablesolvent.

There is a need for compositions and methods that improve transdermaltransport, but do not irritate the skin. There is also a need forimproved compositions to inhibit microbial growth on biological andsynthetic surfaces.

Therefore it is an object of the invention to provide compositions forimproving transdermal transport of therapeutic, prophylactic, ordiagnostic agents.

It is a further object of the invention to provide improved compositionsfor the treatment of diseases and disorders within the skin, such asinfections.

It is a further object of the invention to provide methods andcompositions for inhibiting microbial growth.

It is yet a further object of the invention to provide methods forimproving transdermal transport of therapeutic, prophylactic, ordiagnostic agents.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide improvedmethods for treatment of diseases and disorders of the skin.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The compositions and methods described herein are topically applied tothe skin with negligible or no skin irritation (as evidenced by redness,burning and/or itching sensations) and can direct or prevent transportthrough the skin. The compositions contain neat ionic liquids,optionally in combination with a drug to be delivered. In a preferredembodiment, the compositions enhance skin penetration. Thesecompositions are applied topically to the surface of the skin andincrease transdermal transport of the drug to be delivered.

In some embodiments, the compositions disrupt bacterial biofilms. Thisis particularly beneficial in the treatment of antibiotic resistant skininfections.

In other embodiments, the compositions contain ILs that are able todirect delivery within the skin. In still other embodiments, thecompositions are able to prevent transfer of substances through thestratum corneum. Such compositions may be useful as a protective coatingon the skin.

The compositions can be tuned and modified such that they can be used totreat or prevent a variety of different diseases and disorders.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic of the skin transport experiment set-up andanalysis. Porcine skin was loaded into the Franz diffusion cell (FDC)with the stratum corneum (SC) facing up. Skin was incubated in contactwith 3H-labeled drug dissolved in donor solution for 24 hrs, at 37° C.,with stirring. After 24 hrs the donor solution was removed and skinthoroughly washed. The SC was separated from the epidermis by tapestripping. Ten tape strips were applied, each tape corresponding to 1“layer” of SC. Ten tape strips were assumed to remove the entire SC.Epidermis was separated from dermis using a razor blade. Acceptorsolution was collected, and drug transport into various tissue layerswas quantified by scintillation counter.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are bar graphs of Transport enhancement (relative to PBScontrol) into porcine skin by ionic liquids. FIG. 2A 0.5 μM 3H-Mannitolwas added to each of the ILs (LANL-6, LANL-13, LANL-14, LANL-19,LANL-21) and applied to the porcine skin. FIG. 2B 14.3 μM 3H-Cefadroxilwas added the IL (LANL-21) and applied to the porcine skin. Error barsrepresent mean s.e. for n=3.

FIG. 3 is a schematic showing the Bacterial biofilm growth, ILchallenge, and assay processing steps. MBEC™ HTP Assay plates were usedfor growing biofilms. A modified version of the MBEC™ HIP Assay protocolwas used. ®Innovotech, Inc., Edmonton, AB, Canada.

FIGS. 4A-C are bar graphs of biofilm size (cfu/ml) following 2 hour ILchallenge, sonication and recovery. Materials tested were LANL-2,LANL-5, LANL-6, LANL-7, LANL-12, LANL-13, LANL-14, LB media (positivecontrol), 10% bleach (negative control). FIG. 4A: Average cfu/mL cellcounts for n=6, all data points. Error=standard deviation of n=6. FIG.4B: Biofilm age comparison—72 hour Pseudomonas (shaded bar) and 24 hourPseudomonas (open bar); FIG. 4C: Biofilm species comparison—24 hourPseudomonas (shaded bar) and 24 hour Salmonella (open bar).

FIGS. 5A-5C are bar graphs of the percentage of surviving cellsfollowing 2 hour IL challenge, sonication, and recovery. LB (positivecontrol)=100%. Average percent survival for n=6. Materials tested wereLANL-2, LANL-5, LANL-6, LANL-7, LANL-12, LANL-13, LANL-14, LB media(positive control), 10% bleach (negative control). FIG. 5A: All datapoints. FIG. 5B: Biofilm age comparison (72 hours (shaded bar) versus 24hours (open bar) for P. aeruginosa (Pseudomonas)). FIG. 5C: Biofilmspecies comparison after 24 hours (S. enterica (Salmonella) open bar, P.aeruginosa (Pseudomonas) shaded bar).

FIG. 6 is a Walden plot of materials tested (Log (molar conductivity)(molar conductivity in S/cm/M) versus Log (1/viscosity) (viscosity inPoise).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The compositions contain neat ionic liquids, which do not form orcontain emulsions or microemulsions under standard storage andapplication conditions (e.g. room temperature and pressure). The ionicliquids typically contain at least one cationic component and at leastone anionic component. Preferably at least one of the components of theionic liquid is a chemical permeation enhancer, preferably both thecationic and anionic components are chemical permeation enhancers. Thecompositions preferably also contain a drug to be delivered. Optionally,one of the ionic components is also the drug to be delivered.

The compositions are applied topically to an individual's skin in aneffective amount to increase transdermal drug delivery. When applied toan individual's skin, the compositions do not cause undue irritation,such as evidenced by redness, burning and/or itching sensations.

In some embodiments, in addition to increasing the rate and/or amount ofdrug transport through the skin, the compositions disrupt bacterialbiofilms. Thus, these compositions may be used to treat bacterialinfections, optionally antibiotic resistant skin infections. In theseembodiments, the composition optionally, does not include a drug to bedelivered, and the composition may contain an effective amount of theionic liquids to treat the infection.

I. Drug-Containing Compositions for Targeted Drug Delivery

The compositions contain at least two components, which can be at leasttwo ionic components, or at least one ionic component and a drug to bedelivered. Preferably the ionic liquid contains two or more, morepreferably two ionic components. In some embodiments, the compositionsalso contain a drug to be delivered transdermally. The compositions maybe used to administer a wide range of drugs. In some embodiments, theILs are effective at removing bacterial biofilm from a skin site. Inthese embodiments, optionally, the composition does not contain anadditional drug to be delivered. In some embodiments, the composition isapplied to a synthetic surface, such as the surface of a medical deviceto inhibit microbial growth.

A. Ionic Liquids

The term “ionic liquids (ILs)” as used herein refers to organic salts ormixtures of organic salts which are in liquid state at room temperature.This class of solvents has been shown to be useful in a variety offields, including in industrial processing, catalysis, pharmaceuticals,and electrochemistry. The ionic liquids contain at least one anionic andat least one cationic component. Optionally, the IL contains anadditional hydrogen bond donor (i.e. any molecule that can provide an—OH or an —NH group), examples include but are not limited to alcohols,fatty acids, and amines.

In some embodiments, the cationic or anionic component is also a drug.

The at least one anionic and at least one cationic component may bepresent in any molar ratio. Exemplary molar ratios (cation:anion) areprovided in Table 2. Exemplary molar ratios (cation:anion) include butare not limited to 1:1, 1:2, 2:1, 1:3, 3:1, 2:3, 3:2, and ranges betweenthese ratios.

The compositions disclosed herein typically contain an ionic liquid. Theability to modulate either the cation or anion individually presents anadvantageous framework for tuning secondary and tertiary characteristicswithout sacrificing the primary function of the IL. Hough, et al., “Thethird evolution of ionic liquids: active pharmaceutical ingredients”,New Journal of Chemistry, 31:1429 (2007).

Each of the components in the IL (i.e., anionic and cationic components)or ionic component(s) in the IL and drug may on its own be irritating tothe skin. However, the combination of the ionic components (or ioniccomponent and drug) used in the composition is not irritating whenapplied to the surface of the skin.

Exemplary ionic liquids are described in International PatentApplication Publication No. WO 07/124397 to Grinstaff et al. herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety. Exemplary ionic liquids withantimicrobial properties are described in WO 2011/056545 to Grinstaff etal. hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The ionic liquids may include organic cations that contain independentlyfor each occurrence a heterocycle selected from the group consisting ofazathiozoles, pyrazoles, thiazoles, isothiazoles, oxothiazoles,oxazines, oxazo lines, oxazoboroles, dithioazoles, triazoles,selenozoles, oxaphopholes, pyrroles, boroles, furans, thiophenes,phospholes, pentazoles, indoles, indolines, oxazoles, isoozazoles,isotriazoles, tetrazoles, benzofurans, dibenzofurans, benzothiophenes,dibenzothiophenes, thiadiazoles, pyrimidines, pyrazines, pyridazines,piperazines, pipidines, morpholenes, pyrans, annolines, phthalzines,quinazolines, quinoxalines, quino lines, isoquinolines, thazines,oxazines, and azaannulenes. The ionic liquids may include acyclicorganic cations, such as amines such as amidines, imines, guanidines,phosphines such as phosphinimines, arsines, stibines, ethers,thioethers, and selenoethers.

The ionic liquids may include organic and inorganic anions that containindependently for each occurrence a carboxylic acid, sulfonic acid,tetrafluoroborate, hexafluorophosphate,bis-trifluoromethane-sulfonimide, and derivatives thereof. Additionalanionic species that can be included in the ionic liquid include, butare not limited to, fatty acids, alcohols, borates, phosphates,nitrates, sulfates, triflates, antimonates, carboranes, poly-oxometallates, and metalloboranes.

In some embodiments, the IL is a deep eutectic solvent (DES). A DES is atype of ionic solvent with special properties composed of a mixturewhich forms a eutectic with a melting point much lower than either ofthe individual components. Exemplary DES include, but are not limitedto, choline oleate, choline hexanoate, choline geranate, cholinemalonate (choline disodium malonate), and urea-choline. In these theformulation is a DES and not a true ionic liquid because excesscarboxylate precludes 1:1 ion pairing.

One or more of the components may be a chemical permeation enhancer.

Preferably the ionic liquid contains [P(C₁₄H₂₉)(C₆H₁₃)³]⁺ (“PR₄”) incombination with an anionic component, preferably the anionic componentis a salt of a fatty acid. Exemplary fatty acids include, but are notlimited to, myristoleic acid, palmitoleic acid, sapienic acid, oleicacid, elaidic acid, geranic acid, vaccenic acid, linoleic acid,linoelaidic acid, α-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoicacid, erucic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid,valeric acid, hexanoic acid, enanthic acid, caprylic acid, pelargonicacid, capric acid, undecylic acid, lauric acid, tridecyclic acid,myristic acid, pentadecylic acid, palmitic acid, margaric acid, stearicacid, nonadecylic acid, arachidic acid, heneicosylic acid, behenic acid,tricosylic acid, lignoceric acid, pentacosylic acid, cerotic acid,heptacosylic acid, montanic acid, nonacosylic acid, melissic acid,henatriacontylic acid, lacceroic acid, psyllic acid, geddic acid,ceroplastic acid, or hexatriacontylic acid. Preferred fatty acid saltsinclude sodium oleate, sodium geranate, or sodium hexanoate.

Physical Properties for Cationic and Anionic Components of the IL

Preferably, materials that are used as transdermal delivery agents haveviscosities below about 1500 cP at room temperature when measured usinga standard viscometer, such as Viscolab 3000 viscometer (CambridgeViscosity, Medford, Mass.).

The relationship between viscosity and conductance of ionic liquid mayprovide insight on the mobility of ions in the IL, e.g., are the cationsand anions tightly associated as cation-anion pairs or flowing freely.The Walden rule, that the product of molar conductivity and viscosity isa constant value, holds for pure ionic liquids. Xu, et al., “IonicLiquids: Ion Mobilities, Glass Temperatures, and Fragilities”, Journalof Physical Chemistry B, 107(25): 6170-6178 (2003). FIG. 6 shows aWalden plot for which an ideal Walden line for a dilute aqueous solutionof fully dissociated KCl has slope=1. A low conductivity indicates thatthe cation-anion pairs are highly associated and would be favorable fortransdermal delivery. A low viscosity is also conducive to transportthrough skin.

In some embodiments, the ionic liquids for transdermal drug formulationhave room temperature values in the lower right side of the Walden plot.As shown in the Examples, some of the materials showing the best skintransport properties fall in the lower right portion of the plot, suchas PR4-oleate and choline geranate.

The ionic liquids may be selected such that their conductivities andviscosities at room temperature when plotted on a Walden plot arelocated in the lower right potion of the Walden plot.

Chemical Permeation Enhancers

As used herein “chemical permeation enhancer” or “CPE” generally means achemical that aids transport across the epithelium of the skin (stratumcorneum), such as by altering the structure of the cellular membrane(transcellular route) and/or the tight junctions between cells(paracellular route) of the stratum corneum.

Exemplary cationic CPEs include, but are not limited to cationicsurfactants, cationic polymers (e.g., polylysine, polyethylene imine,polyarginine), fatty amines, and nitrogen-containing rings

Exemplary anionic CPEs include, but are not limited to, anionicsurfactants (e.g., sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium decyl sulfate, sodiumoctylsulfate), and salts of fatty acids.

Table 1 below list some exemplary CPEs characterized by charge (chargeis indicated in parentheses) and category. Some are not charged but maybe able to become charged or have charged derivatives. Additional CPEsare known and disclosed in KARNADE 2005, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

TABLE 1 CPEs characterized by charge and category CAS AbbreviationChemical Name Category Number SLS (−) Sodium lauryl sulfate AS 151-21-3SDS (−) Sodium decyl sulfate AS 142-87-0 SOS (−) Sodium octyl sulfate AS142-31-4 SLA (−) Sodium laureth sulfate AS 68585-34-2 NLS (−) N-Laurylsarcosinate AS 137-16-6 CTAB (+) Cetyltrimethyl ammonium CS 57-09-0bromide DTAB (+) Decyltrimethyl ammonium CS 2082-84-0 bromide BDAC (+)Benzyldimethyl dodecyl CS 139-07-1 ammonium chloride TTAC (+)Myristyltrimethyl ammonium CS 4574-04-3 chloride DPC (+) Dodecylpyridinium chloride CS 104-74-5 DPS Decyldimethyl ammonio ZS 15163-36-propane sulfonate MPS Myristyldimethyl ammonio ZS 14933-09-6 propanesulfonate PPS Palmityldimethyl ammonio ZS 2281-11-0 propane sulfonateCBC ChemBetaine CAS ZS N/A (mixture) CBO ChemBetaine Oleyl ZS N/A(mixture) PCC Palmitoyl carnitine chloride ZS 6865-14-1 SDC (−) Sodiumdeoxycholate BS 302-95-4 SGC (−) Sodium glycocholate BS 863-57-0 CA (−)Cholic acid FA 73163-53-8 HA (−) Hexanoic acid FA 142-91-6 HPA (−)Heptanoic acid FA 111-14-8 SOA (−) Sodium oleate SS 143-19-1 UR Urea FM57-13-6 LAM (+) Lauryl amine FM 124-22-1 CL Caprolactam NR 105-60-2 MP(+) Methyl pyrrolidone NR 872-50-4 OP (+) Octyl pyrrolidone NR 2687-94-7MPZ (+) Methyl piperazine NR 109-01-3 PPZ (+) Phenyl piperazine NR92-54-6

Targeted Delivery

The compositions may be selected to deliver a drug to a particular site,such as within the stratum corneum, epidermis and/or dermis, or throughand beyond all of the layers of the skin. As shown in the examples,different ILs demonstrated three different transport regimes, dependingon the IL employed: 1) Drug retention in the donor solution. 2) Enhancedlocalization and retention within the SC, epidermis, and dermis. 3)Enhanced transdermal penetration through all layers of the skin and intothe acceptor solution. In all of the embodiments, the composition is notirritating to the skin, although one or more of the components on itsown may be irritating.

In some embodiments, the components of the composition (e.g. cationiccomponent, anionic component, and/or drug) are selected such that thedrug to be delivered is delivered within the layers of the skin. Thismay be particularly useful for the treatment of diseases or disorders ofthe skin, such as treatment of an infection, cut, burn, or rash.

In other embodiments, the components of the composition (e.g. cationiccomponent, anionic component, and/or drug) are selected such that thedrug to be delivered is transported through the skin.

In still other embodiments, the components of the composition may beselected such that they prevent transfer of a drug (or other substance)through the stratum corneum. This may be useful as a coating to protectthe skin or treat large open wounds.

B. Drugs to be Delivered

The drug to be delivered transdermally may be any chemical or biologicalmolecules providing a therapeutic, diagnostic, or prophylactic effect invivo. The drug-containing compositions may contain any suitable drug.The drug is selected based on the disease or disorder to be treated orprevented. The drug can be a small molecule or macromolecule, such as aprotein or peptide. In the preferred embodiment the drug is a protein orpeptide. However, a wide range of drugs may be included in thecompositions. Drugs contemplated for use in the formulations describedherein include, but are not limited to, the following categories andexamples of drugs and alternative forms of these drugs such asalternative salt forms, free acid forms, free base forms, and hydrates:

analgesics/antipyretics (e.g., aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen,naproxen sodium, buprenorphine, propoxyphene hydrochloride, propoxyphenenapsylate, meperidine hydrochloride, hydromorphone hydrochloride,morphine, oxycodone, codeine, dihydrocodeine bitartrate, pentazocine,hydrocodone bitartrate, levorphanol, diflunisal, trolamine salicylate,nalbuphine hydrochloride, mefenamic acid, butorphanol, cholinesalicylate, butalbital, phenyltoloxamine citrate, diphenhydraminecitrate, methotrimeprazine, cinnamedrine hydrochloride, andmeprobamate); antiasthamatics (e.g., ketotifen and traxanox);antibiotics (e.g., neomycin, streptomycin, chloramphenicol,cephalosporin, ampicillin, penicillin, tetracycline, and ciprofloxacin);antidepressants (e.g., nefopam, oxypertine, doxepin, amoxapine,trazodone, amitriptyline, maprotiline, phenelzine, desipramine,nortriptyline, tranylcypromine, fluoxetine, doxepin, imipramine,imipramine pamoate, isocarboxazid, trimipramine, and protriptyline);antidiabetics (e.g., biguanides and sulfonylurea derivatives);antifungal agents (e.g., griseofulvin, ketoconazole, itraconizole,amphotericin B, nystatin, and candicidin);antihypertensive agents (e.g., propranolol, propafenone, oxyprenolol,nifedipine, reserpine, trimethaphan, phenoxybenzamine, pargylinehydrochloride, deserpidine, diazoxide, guanethidine monosulfate,minoxidil, rescinnamine, sodium nitroprusside, rauwolfia serpentina,alseroxylon, and phentolamine); anti-inflammatories (e.g.,(non-steroidal) indomethacin, ketoprofen, flurbiprofen, naproxen,ibuprofen, ramifenazone, piroxicam, (steroidal) cortisone,dexamethasone, fluazacort, celecoxib, rofecoxib, hydrocortisone,prednisolone, and prednisone);antineoplastics (e.g., cyclophosphamide, actinomycin, bleomycin,daunorubicin, doxorubicin, epirubicin, mitomycin, methotrexate,fluorouracil, carboplatin, carmustine (BCNU), methyl-CCNU, cisplatin,etoposide, camptothecin and derivatives thereof, phenesterine,paclitaxel and derivatives thereof, docetaxel and derivatives thereof,vinblastine, vincristine, tamoxifen, and piposulfan);antianxiety agents (e.g., lorazepam, buspirone, prazepam,chlordiazepoxide, oxazepam, clorazepate dipotassium, diazepam,hydroxyzine pamoate, hydroxyzine hydrochloride, alprazolam, droperidol,halazepam, chlormezanone, and dantrolene);immunosuppressive agents (e.g., cyclosporine, azathioprine, mizoribine,and FK506 (tacrolimus));antimigraine agents (e.g., ergotamine, propranolol, isometheptenemucate, and dichloralphenazone);sedatives/hypnotics (e.g., barbiturates such as pentobarbital,pentobarbital, and secobarbital; and benzodiazapines such as flurazepamhydrochloride, triazolam, and midazolam);antianginal agents (e.g., beta-adrenergic blockers; calcium channelblockers such as nifedipine, and diltiazem; and nitrates such asnitroglycerin, isosorbide dinitrate, pentaerythritol tetranitrate, anderythrityl tetranitrate);antipsychotic agents (e.g., haloperidol, loxapine succinate, loxapinehydrochloride, thioridazine, thioridazine hydrochloride, thiothixene,fluphenazine, fluphenazine decanoate, fluphenazine enanthate,trifluoperazine, chlorpromazine, perphenazine, lithium citrate, andprochlorperazine);antimanic agents (e.g., lithium carbonate);antiarrhythmics (e.g., bretylium tosylate, esmolol, verapamil,amiodarone, encainide, digoxin, digitoxin, mexiletine, disopyramidephosphate, procainamide, quinidine sulfate, quinidine gluconate,quinidine polygalacturonate, flecainide acetate, tocainide, andlidocaine);antiarthritic agents (e.g., phenylbutazone, sulindac, penicillamine,salsalate, piroxicam, azathioprine, indomethacin, meclofenamate, goldsodium thiomalate, ketoprofen, auranofin, aurothioglucose, and tolmetinsodium);antigout agents (e.g., colchicine, and allopurinol);anticoagulants (e.g., heparin, heparin sodium, and warfarin sodium);thrombolytic agents (e.g., urokinase, streptokinase, and alteplase);antifibrinolytic agents (e.g., aminocaproic acid);hemorheologic agents (e.g., pentoxifylline);antiplatelet agents (e.g., aspirin);anticonvulsants (e.g., valproic acid, divalproex sodium, phenytoin,phenytoin sodium, clonazepam, primidone, phenobarbitol, carbamazepine,amobarbital sodium, methsuximide, metharbital, mephobarbital,mephenytoin, phensuximide, paramethadione, ethotoin, phenacemide,secobarbitol sodium, clorazepate dipotassium, and trimethadione);antiparkinson agents (e.g., ethosuximide);antihistamines/antipruritics (e.g., hydroxyzine, diphenhydramine,chlorpheniramine, brompheniramine maleate, cyproheptadine hydrochloride,terfenadine, clemastine fumarate, triprolidine, carbinoxamine,diphenylpyraline, phenindamine, azatadine, tripelennamine,dexchlorpheniramine maleate, methdilazine, and);agents useful for calcium regulation (e.g., calcitonin, and parathyroidhormone);antibacterial agents (e.g., amikacin sulfate, aztreonam,chloramphenicol, chloramphenicol palmitate, ciprofloxacin, clindamycin,clindamycin palmitate, clindamycin phosphate, metronidazole,metronidazole hydrochloride, gentamicin sulfate, lincomycinhydrochloride, tobramycin sulfate, vancomycin hydrochloride, polymyxin Bsulfate, colistimethate sodium, and colistin sulfate);antiviral agents (e.g., interferon alpha, beta or gamma, zidovudine,amantadine hydrochloride, ribavirin, and acyclovir);antimicrobials (e.g., cephalosporins such as cefazolin sodium,cephradine, cefaclor, cephapirin sodium, ceftizoxime sodium,cefoperazone sodium, cefotetan disodium, cefuroxime e azotil, cefotaximesodium, cefadroxil monohydrate, cephalexin, cephalothin sodium,cephalexin hydrochloride monohydrate, cefamandole nafate, cefoxitinsodium, cefonicid sodium, ceforanide, ceftriaxone sodium, ceftazidime,cefadroxil, cephradine, and cefuroxime sodium; penicillins such asampicillin, amoxicillin, penicillin G benzathine, cyclacillin,ampicillin sodium, penicillin G potassium, penicillin V potassium,piperacillin sodium, oxacillin sodium, bacampicillin hydrochloride,cloxacillin sodium, ticarcillin disodium, azlocillin sodium,carbenicillin indanyl sodium, penicillin G procaine, methicillin sodium,and nafcillin sodium; erythromycins such as erythromycin ethylsuccinate,erythromycin, erythromycin estolate, erythromycin lactobionate,erythromycin stearate, and erythromycin ethylsuccinate; andtetracyclines such as tetracycline hydrochloride, doxycycline hyclate,and minocycline hydrochloride, azithromycin, clarithromycin);anti-infectives (e.g., GM-CSF);bronchodilators (e.g., sympathomimetics such as epinephrinehydrochloride, metaproterenol sulfate, terbutaline sulfate, isoetharine,isoetharine mesylate, isoetharine hydrochloride, albuterol sulfate,albuterol, bitolterolmesylate, isoproterenol hydrochloride, terbutalinesulfate, epinephrine bitartrate, metaproterenol sulfate, epinephrine,and epinephrine bitartrate; anticholinergic agents such as ipratropiumbromide; xanthines such as aminophylline, dyphylline, metaproterenolsulfate, and aminophylline; mast cell stabilizers such as cromolynsodium; inhalant corticosteroids such as beclomethasone dipropionate(BDP), and beclomethasone dipropionate monohydrate; salbutamol;ipratropium bromide; budesonide; ketotifen; salmeterol; xinafoate;terbutaline sulfate; triamcinolone; theophylline; nedocromil sodium;metaproterenol sulfate; albuterol; flunisolide; fluticasone proprionate;steroidal compounds, hormones and hormone analogues (e.g., incretins andincretin mimetics such as GLP-1 and exenatide, androgens such asdanazol, testosterone cypionate, fluoxymesterone, ethyltestosterone,testosterone enathate, methyltestosterone, fluoxymesterone, andtestosterone cypionate; estrogens such as estradiol, estropipate, andconjugated estrogens; progestins such as methoxyprogesterone acetate,and norethindrone acetate; corticosteroids such as triamcinolone,betamethasone, betamethasone sodium phosphate, dexamethasone,dexamethasone sodium phosphate, dexamethasone acetate, prednisone,methylprednisolone acetate suspension, triamcinolone acetonide,methylprednisolone, prednisolone sodium phosphate, methylprednisolonesodium succinate, hydrocortisone sodium succinate, triamcinolonehexacetonide, hydrocortisone, hydrocortisone cypionate, prednisolone,fludrocortisone acetate, paramethasone acetate, prednisolone tebutate,prednisolone acetate, prednisolone sodium phosphate, and hydrocortisonesodium succinate; and thyroid hormones such as levothyroxine sodium);hypoglycemic agents (e.g., human insulin, purified beef insulin,purified pork insulin, recombinantly produced insulin, insulin analogs,glyburide, chlorpropamide, glipizide, tolbutamide, and tolazamide);hypolipidemic agents (e.g., clofibrate, dextrothyroxine sodium,probucol, pravastitin, atorvastatin, lovastatin, and niacin);peptides;proteins (e.g., DNase, alginase, superoxide dismutase, and lipase);nucleic acids (e.g., sense or anti-sense nucleic acids encoding anytherapeutically useful protein, including any of the proteins describedherein, and siRNA);agents useful for erythropoiesis stimulation (e.g., erythropoietin);antiulcer/antireflux agents (e.g., famotidine, cimetidine, andranitidine hydrochloride);antinauseants/antiemetics (e.g., meclizine hydrochloride, nabilone,prochlorperazine, dimenhydrinate, promethazine hydrochloride,thiethylperazine, and scopolamine);oil-soluble vitamins (e.g., vitamins A, D, E, K, and the like);as well as other drugs such as mitotane, halonitrosoureas,anthrocyclines, and ellipticine.

A description of these and other classes of useful drugs and a listingof species within each class can be found in Martindale, The ExtraPharmacopoeia, 30th Ed. (The Pharmaceutical Press, London 1993), thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

C. Dosage Forms

Any dosage form suitable for delivery to the skin may be used. Thecompositions may be in the form of films, depots, patches or neatliquids, creams, lotions.

In one embodiment, ILs are delivered to the skin surface by a drugdelivery device containing a reservoir for holding the ILs. In apreferred embodiment, the reservoir also contains one or more drug(s).

In another embodiment, the ILs may be contained within a drug deliverydevice. A variety of different devices having a variety of differentgeometries and structures may be formed. For example, the device may bea multicompartment device, which also contains the ILs.

II. Uses for Compositions

The compositions described herein may be used for transdermal drugdelivery.

The compositions may be applied to the surface of the skin to treat adisease or disorder of the skin, including but not limited to atopicdermatitis, acne, wound, rash, folliculitis, furunculosis, carbunculosisfungal infection, and other diseases of infectious origin.

In some embodiments, the components of the composition (e.g. cationiccomponent, anionic component, and/or drug) are selected such that thedrug to be delivered is delivered within the layers of the skin. This isparticularly useful for the treatment of diseases or disorders of theskin, such as treatment of an infection, cut, burn, or rash.

In other embodiments, the components of the composition (e.g. cationiccomponent, anionic component, and/or drug) are selected such that thedrug to be delivered is transported through the skin.

In still other embodiments, the components of the composition may beselected such that they prevent transfer of a drug (or other substance)through the stratum corneum. In these embodiments, the composition maybe applied to the surface of the skin to form a coating to protect theskin or treat large open wounds.

In some embodiments the compositions contain ILs in an effective amountto disrupt bacterial biofilms. In these embodiments the compositions maynot include a drug to be delivered. For example, the composition maycontain an ionic liquid that contains one cationic component and oneanionic component, and does not contain a drug to be delivered inaddition to the cationic and anionic components. This composition can beapplied to a synthetic surface or a biological surface (e.g. the skin).

In some embodiments the compositions contain ILs in an effective amountto inhibit microbial growth on a synthetic surface. For example, thesurface could be the surface of a medical device, such as an implantablemedical device.

EXAMPLES General Experimental Materials

Trihexyltetradecylphosphonium chloride, or CYPHOS 101 (CY101), was agift from Cytec Specialty Chemicals (Niagara Falls, Ontario) and waspurified prior to use by washing with 1 M sodium bicarbonate and waterand extracting with hexanes until the UV-Vis absorption beyond 300 nmdisappeared and the pH of 2 mL water did not change upon being shakenwith 2 mL of the ionic liquid. CY101 was then dried at 80° C. undervacuum for 24 h.

Geranic acid was purified from the commercially available technicalgrade (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo.) by repeated (5-7×)recrystallization from a solution of 70 wt % geranic acid/30 wt %acetone at −70° C. Purity of products was assessed by 1H NMRspectroscopy and conductivity measurements.

Determination of Lipophilicity

A 250 mL volume of n-octanol was shaken with 100 mL of ddH₂O and leftovernight. The saturated octanol was used to prepare 0.01 M solutions ofeach IL in 5 mL volumetric flasks, as well as 0.01 M solutions in water.For the choline-oleate and BZBN materials, the concentrations assayedwere 0.0005 M and 0.0001 M, respectively, because the absorption at 0.01M was too high for the detector. The BMP-NTf₂ IL was assayed at 0.2 Mbecause the absorption at lower concentrations was below the acceptablelimit of detection. Absorption maxima between 205 and 215 nm wereobserved in all cases.

A 4 mL portion of the IL solution was shaken with 4 mL of ddH₂O for 1min, followed by 1 min of gentle centrifugation (1000 rpm, 129×g, ThermoIEC Centra CL2 centrifuge, 4-hole fixed angle rotor 804SF, Thermo FisherScientific, Waltham, Mass.) to obtain clean separation of the twolayers. The absorption of the octanol layer and water layers weremeasured and compared with the absorbance of the stock solutions.Measurements were repeated three times and the distribution coefficientswere reported as the average. The percent of IL in octanol wascalculated as the absorbance of the octanol layer after extractiondivided by the absorbance of IL in octanol before extraction. Thewater/octanol distribution coefficient was calculated as the logarithmof the percent of IL in octanol divided by the percent of IL in water.

Viscosity and DSC

Viscosity was measured on 1 mL samples with a Viscolab 3000 viscometer(Cambridge Viscosity, Medford, Mass.). Samples were heated to 90° C. andviscosity was recorded in 2 degree increments between 50 and 90° C. with8 min equilibration at each temperature. Low-temperature differentialscanning calorimetry (DSC) was performed on a DSC882e instrument(Mettler-Toledo Inc., Columbus, Ohio) under N₂ atmosphere over twocomplete scans of a temperature range of −60 to 120° C. with a ramp rateof 10° C. per minute and a sample size of 18-21 mg in an aluminumcrucible.

Conductivity and Density

Determinations of conductivity were made on an ION450 benchtop meter(Radiometer Analytical) with a 2-pole electrode designed for use inviscous liquids (Radiometer Analytical CDC241-9) and calibrated withKCl. Conductivity was measured three times per sample on stirred 3 mLvolumes of neat IL at 25° C. Density was measured three times per ILusing a 1 mL volumetric flask and an analytical balance.

UV-Vis and NMR Spectroscopy

Absorption spectra were collected on a Hewlett-Packard 8453 diode arrayspectrophotometer (Agilent Technologies, Inc., Santa Clara, Calif.) in a1 cm pathlength quartz cuvette. NMR datasets were collected on a 300 MHzBruker instrument using sample concentrations of 50 mM in CDCl3.

Preparation of [PR₄][Carboxylate] ILs

Preparation of PR₄-Oleate.

Ionic liquids containing the [P(C₁₄H₂₉)(C₆H₁₃)₃]⁺ cation and the oleateanion were prepared via salt metathesis. To a 50 mL solution of sodiumoleate (10.0 g, 0.035 mol) in chloroform was added a 50 mL solution oftrihexyltetradecylphosphonium chloride (CY101, 18.39 g, 0.35 mol) inchloroform. Five portions of 50 mL water were added to the stirredsolution and removed, after which a test of the removed water withsilver nitrate was no longer positive for the presence of chloride.Solvent was removed from the chloroform layer and the resulting IL wasdried in a vacuum oven at 80° C. for 48 h.

Physical characterization at 25° C.: solubility in water=trace;density=0.882 g/mL; conductivity=0.016 mS/cm; viscosity=299 cP.

Preparation of PR₄-Hexanoate.

To a solution of 1.46 g (0.011 mol) sodium hexanoate in 15 mL methanolwas added 5.48 g (0.011 mol) CY101. The mixture was stirred for 15 mM,the methanol was removed by rotary evaporation, and the IL was washed ina separation funnel with 3×15 mL of water, until a test of the waterwith silver nitrate showed no chloride present. The IL was dried in avacuum oven at 80° C. for 48 h.

Physical characterization at 25° C.: solubility in water=trace;density=0.912 g/mL; conductivity=0.488 mS/cm; viscosity=154 cP.

Preparation of PR₄-Geranate.

After recrystallization five times at −70° C. from 70% geranic acid/30%acetone, neat geranic acid (16.2 g, 0.096 mol) was added to sodiumbicarbonate (8.09 g in 50 mL ddH2O) in a 500 mL round bottom flask andstirred until the pH was 8.5, gas evolution ceased, and the solutionconverged to a single phase. Neat CY101 (50 g, 0.96 mol) was added andthe two-phase mixture was stirred for 2 h. The CY101 layer was washedthree times with ddH2O and dried by rotary evaporation and in a vacuumoven at 65° C. for 48 h.

Physical characterization at 25° C.: solubility in water=trace;density=0.931 g/mL; conductivity=0.156 mS/cm; viscosity=122 cP.

Preparation of Other ILs

Preparation of Choline-NTf2.

The synthesis of choline-NTf2 was performed as described by Nockemann etal. [1] and the density (1.5 g/mL), NMR (1H and 13C) and melting point(30° C.) were found to agree with the published values. Physicalcharacterization at 25° C.: solubility in water=1.7 M; density=1.53g/mL; conductivity=1.46 mS/cm; viscosity=125 cP.

Preparation of BMP-NTf2.

The synthesis of 1-Butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium (BMP)—bistriflimide(NTf2) (BMP-NTf2) was performed as described by MacFarlane, D. R., etal., “Pyrrolidinium imides: A new family of molten salts and conductiveplastic crystal phases,” Journal of Physical Chemistry B,103(20):4164-4170 (1999) and modified as described Baker, S. N., et al.,“Fluorescence studies of protein thermostability in ionic liquids”,Chemical Communications, (8): 940-1 (2004).

Physical characterization at 25° C.: solubility in water=0.2 M;density=1.39 g/mL; conductivity=1.99 mS/cm; viscosity=72.7 cP.

Preparation of Bze-ZnCl2-BMP-NTf2.

Two ionic liquids, BMP-NTf2 and benzethonium-Cl—(ZnCl2)2 weresynthesized and then combined in a 50/50 wt % mixture by stirring at 80°C. for 2 h. The synthesis of benzethonium-Cl—(ZnCl₂)₂ was performed froma mixture of benzethonium chloride and two equivalents of anhydrous zincchloride as described in Lovejoy, K. S., et al., “Utilization of MetalHalide Species Ambiguity to Develop Amorphous, Stabilized PharmaceuticalAgents As Ionic Liquids” Crystal Growth & Design, 12(11): p. 5357-5364(2012) and subsequently combined with BMP-NTf2.

Physical characterization at 25° C.: solubility in water=0.2 M;density=1.40 g/mL; conductivity=0.026 mS/cm; viscosity=8176 cP.

Preparation of 1-Hexyl-3-Methylimidazolium Chloride (HMIM-Cl).

As described for the butyl derivative in Wilkes, J. S., et al.,“Dialkylimidazolium Chloroaluminate Melts—a New Class ofRoom-Temperature Ionic Liquids for Electrochemistry”, Spectroscopy andSynthesis. Inorganic Chemistry, 21(3): 1263-1264 (1982),1-methylimidazole (11.9 g, 0.122 mol) was refluxed with an excess ofchlorohexane (20.98 g, 0.146 mol) for 3 hours or until the reaction wascomplete as tested by the absence of a blue color upon adding a fewdrops of the reaction mixture to an aqueous solution of Cu(SO4). Carson,L., et al., “Antibiofilm activities of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazoliumchloride ionic liquids”, Green Chemistry, 11(4): p. 492-497 (2009).Chlorohexane was removed by rotary evaporation.

Physical characterization at 25° C.: solubility in water=0.7 M;density=1.005 g/mL; conductivity=0.340 mS/cm; viscosity=680 cP.

Preparation of [Choline][Carboxylate]₂ Deep Eutectic Solvents

Determination of Choline/Carboxylic Acid Ratio.

To 3, 2, 1, 0.5, or 0.33 equivalents of choline bicarbonate (80 wt %solution) was added neat hexanoic acid (2 g, 0.007 mol) in a 20 mLscintillation vial. The mixture was stirred at room temperature untilCO₂ evolution ceased. Solvent was removed by rotary evaporation at 60°C. for 20 min, and each product was dried in a vacuum oven for 48 h at60° C. Melting point was determined by DSC as described and thepreferred composition was determined to be the one with the lowestmelting point.

Preparation of Choline Oleate.

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) containing two equivalents of carboxylateand one equivalent of choline were prepared by neutralizing cholinebicarbonate. To two equivalents of neat oleic acid (9.34 g, 0.033 mol)in a 250 mL round bottom flask was added 3.41 g of an 80 wt % solutionof choline bicarbonate (2.73 g, 0.0165 mol). A portion of 20 mL methanolwas added to the mixture to improve stirring at room temperature and thestiffing continued until no more CO₂ evolved. Solvent was removed byrotary evaporation at 60° C. for 20 min, and the product was dried in avacuum oven for 48 h at 60° C.

Physical characterization at 25° C.: solubility in water=0.2 M;density=0.98 g/mL; conductivity=0.087 mS/cm; viscosity=880 cP.

Preparation of Choline Hexanoate.

To two equivalents of neat hexanoic acid (16 g, 0.138 mol) in a 500 mLround bottom flask was added 14.22 g of an 80 wt % solution of cholinebicarbonate (11.38 g, 0.069 mol). The mixture was stirred at roomtemperature until no more CO₂ evolved. Solvent was removed by rotaryevaporation at 60° C. for 20 min, and the product was dried in a vacuumoven for 48 h at 60° C.

Physical characterization at 25° C.: solubility in water=0.5 M;density=1.01 g/mL; conductivity=0.816 mS/cm; viscosity=181 cP; meltingpoint=−94° C.

Preparation of Choline Geranate.

To two equivalents (9.88 g, 0.059 moles) of neat geranic acid,recrystallized 5× at −70° C. from 70% geranic acid/30% acetone, in a 500mL round bottom flask was added one equivalent of choline bicarbonate(80 wt % solution, 6.06 g, 0.029 mol). The mixture was stirred at roomtemperature until no more CO₂ evolved. Solvent was removed by rotaryevaporation at 60° C. for 20 min, and the product was dried in a vacuumoven for 48 h at 60° C.

Physical characterization at 25° C.: solubility in water=0.5 M;density=0.990 g/mL; conductivity=0.0431 mS/cm; viscosity=1345 cP.

Preparation of Choline Malonate.

Because malonic acid is a dicarboxylic acid, one equivalent of was usedwith one equivalent of choline chloride. To one equivalent of malonicacid (2.76 g, 0.027 mol) in a 250 mL round bottom flask was added oneequivalent of choline chloride (3.70 g, 0.027 mol). The mixture wasstirred 24 h at room temperature, and the material was filtered througha Pasteur pipette containing about 0.5 mL of celite using ˜5 psi N2, andthen dried in a vacuum oven for 24 h at 45° C. A gas was observed toevolve rapidly from the material upon heating to about 80° C.

Physical characterization at 25° C.: solubility in water=miscible;density=1.266 g/mL; conductivity=0.429 mS/cm; viscosity=920 cP.

Preparation of Non-Carboxylate DESs

Preparation of Urea-Choline.

As described in Abbott, A. P., et al., “Novel solvent properties ofcholine chloride/urea mixtures”, Chem. Commun. (Cambridge, U.K.), (1):70-71 2003), two equivalents of urea (10 g, 0.167 mol) were mixed withone equivalent of choline chloride (11.6 g, 0.083 mol) in ascintillation vial under argon atmosphere. The material was dried for 24h in a vacuum oven at 60° C. The DES was heated to 30° C. prior to use.

Physical characterization at 25° C.: solubility in water=miscible;density=1.21 g/mL; conductivity=0.580 mS/cm; viscosity=1390 cP.

Table 2 lists the abbreviations, starting cationic and anioniccomponents and molar ratios used for the ILs that were tested.

TABLE 2 Abbreviations, starting components, and molar ratios for ILsMolar Ratio Abbreviation Cation Anion (Cation:Anion) LANL-1 BMPBistriflimide 1:1 LANL-2 Bze, BMP ZnCl₂, Bistriflimide 1:1:1:1 LANL-5Choline Disodium Malonate 1:1 LANL-6 Choline Urea 1:2 LANL-7 HMIMChloride 1:1 LANL-12 Choline Bistriflimide 1:1 LANL-13 Choline HexanoicAcid 1:2 LANL-14 Choline Oleic Acid, Hexanoic Acid 2:2:2 LANL-19 PR₄Sodium Oleate 1:1 LANL-20 PR₄ Sodium Hexanoate 1:1 LANL-21 CholineSodium Geranate 1:2 LANL-22 PR₄ Sodium Geranate 1:1

Biological Methods

Cell Culture and Exposure.

Normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells were purchased (Lonza,Walkersville, Md.) and cultured using bronchial epithelial cell growthmedia (BEGM, Clonetics Bullet Kit, Lonza, Walkersville, Md.) on 100 mmtissue culture treated Petri dishes (Santa Cruz Biotechnologies, SantaCruz, Calif.) coated with 50 μg/mL type I rat tail collagen (BDBiosciences, Bedford, Mass.). Cells were stored in an incubator with ahumidified atmosphere at 37° C. and 5% CO₂. Cells were fed two timesweekly and passaged via trypsinization. Experimentation was performed intriplicate on cells harvested from passages 3 to 7.

NHBE cells were plated in 96-well tissue culture plates at aconcentration of 1.5×10⁴ cells/well in a volume of 200 μL and allowed toacclimate overnight. On the day of experimentation, treatment plateswere prepared using stock ionic liquid diluted in BEGM and then seriallydiluted 3-fold for a total of 7 concentrations. The 96-well platescontaining cells were then aspirated and the treatments (150 μL/well)were carefully transferred from the prep plate to the cells. Cells wereexposed to the ionic liquids for 24 hours. Two hours prior to the end ofthe exposure time, positive control cell wells were aspirated, and asolution of 1% Triton-100 (150 μL/well) was added.

Proliferation and Cytotoxicity Assay.

After 24 h of exposure, 75 μL of cell culture supernatant were takenfrom each well and transferred to a new flat bottom plate for lateranalyses of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. Plates were coveredand stored at 4° C. until analysis was performed.

To assess cellular proliferation, water-soluble tetrazolium (WST-1)reagent (Clontech, Mountain View, Calif.) was added directly to cells,at a 1:10 dilution of the remaining media volume (7.5 μL of WST-1reagent was added per 75 μL remaining cell culture media). NHBE cellsexposed to media only and 1% Triton in BEGM were included as controls.Ionic liquid controls at the highest concentrations tested were includedin wells without cells to rule out ionic liquid/assay reagentinterference. Absorbance was read on a Biotek plate reader at 440 nmwith a reference wavelength of 600 nm.

The amount of LDH in supernatants can be measured and used as anindirect measure of cell membrane permeability. Thus, the cytotoxiceffects of ionic liquids upon NHBE cells was evaluated by measuring LDHactivity using a LDH cytoxicity kit (Clontech, Mountain View, Calif.) asoutlined in Martin, et al., “Impact of physicochemical properties ofengineered fullerenes on key biological responses”, Toxicology andApplied Pharmacology, 234(1): 58-67 (2009).

NHBE cells exposed to media only or 1% Triton-100 in BEGM served ascontrols. QD controls at the highest concentrations tested were includedin wells without cells to determine if ionic liquids themselvesinterfere with LDH reaction mix. Absorbance was read on a Biotek platereader at 490 nm with a reference wavelength of 600 nm.

Measurement of Skin Transport

3H-labeled Mannitol and Cefadroxil were obtained from AmericanRadiolabeled Chemicals, Inc. and Moravek, respectively. FDCs were usedto assess the transport enhancement of ionic liquids using a previouslyestablished protocol.

Karande, et al., “Discovery of transdermal penetration enhancers byhigh-throughput screening”, Nat Biotechnol, 22(2): 192-7 (2004).Briefly, the acceptor chamber was filled with degassed PBS and a smallstir bar added. Thawed porcine skin was clamped in place between theacceptor and donor chambers with the SC facing up. Care was taken toensure no air bubbles resided in the acceptor chamber. Ionic liquids orPBS (control) were spiked with 3H-labeled drug (Mannitol and Cefadroxil)to a final concentration of 10 μCi/ml. 300 μL of donor solution wasadded to the donor chamber and incubated in contact with the SC for 24hr, at 37° C., with stirring.

After 24 hr, the donor solution was removed, and the skin was thoroughlywashed and dried.

SC was separated from epidermis by tape stripping. Ten tape strips wereperformed in an identical fashion, with each tape corresponding to 1 SC“layer”. Ten strips were assumed to remove the majority of the SC.Epidermis was separated from dermis with a razor blade, and the acceptorsolution was collected from the acceptor chamber. Samples from eachtissue layer and acceptor solution were dissolved in Soluble (PerkinElmer, Waltham, Mass.) overnight and the concentration of radiolabeledsolute was measured using a scintillation counter (Packard Tri-Carb 2100TR, Meriden, Conn.).

Bacterial Biofilm Growth in Innovotech MBEC Plates

-   -   96-well plates used for Rinse, Challenge, Wash, and Sonication        were Costar flat-bottom polystyrene, with lid. Cat #3370.        96-well plates

Day 1:

-   -   pm: Use a glycerol stock aliquot to streak a fresh LB agar        plate. Streak for isolated colonies. Incubate overnight at 37°        C.

Day 2:

-   -   am: Remove growth agar plate from incubation and inspect for        contamination. Store the agar plate at room temperature or 4°        C., until later in the day.    -   pm: Use a single colony from the growth plate to inoculate 5 mL        LB liquid culture. Incubate overnight with vigorous shaking        (225-250 rpm) at 37° C.

Day 3:

-   -   am: Inoculate fresh 5 mL LB liquid culture with 50 uL from        overnight liquid culture (1:100 dilution). Incubate at 37° C.        with vigorous shaking until culture reaches log phase growth        (˜0.5 OD). This is roughly 3 hours for most laboratory bacterial        strains.

Use the log phase growth culture to set up the biofilm growth plate bydiluting the culture 1:50 into fresh LB media, using a suitable totalvolume to inoculate the number of wells and/or plates required. Add 200uL diluted culture to each well. Place the MBEC plate lid (with pegs) ontop of the well plate, and seal the edges with parafilm. This is thebest way to prevent evaporation from the wells. Incubate the plate, 225RPM, for 24 hours at 37° C.

Day 4:

At 24 hours biofilm growth, remove planktonic cells/media from thebiofilms by placing the MBEC peg lid onto a fresh 96-well plate with 200uL/well of fresh LB media. Discard the well plate containing planktoniccells/media.

If growing biofilms for greater than 24 hours, after each 24 hour periodof incubation, the planktonic cells/media should be removed and thebiofilms “fed” with fresh media.

Once biofilms are ready to be challenged or visualized, a 200 uL gentleLB media “rinse” should be performed (after planktonic cell/mediaremoval) to remove cells that are loosely associated with the biofilm.This is accomplished by briefly placing the peg-attached biofilms onto a96-well plate with 200 uL fresh LB.

Bacterial Biofilm Challenge with Ionic Liquids. A Modification of the©Innovotech MBEC HTP Assay

Challenge Plate Setup

Step I: Biofilms grown on MBEC pegs were rinsed briefly, at roomtemperature, to remove planktonic and loosely adhered bacterial cells.The MBEC peg lid was placed briefly onto a 96-well plate with 200uL/well LB. Planktonic cells were discarded from both the biofilm growthplate and the rinse plate (not the MBEC peg lid) into a decontaminationbucket with 10% bleach.

Step II: The MBEC peg lid was then situated onto the challenge plate.Ionic liquids and control solutions were added in triplicate wells in analternating arrangement at 200 uL/well. In general 3-4 ionic liquids,component controls for each, and positive (LB) and negative (LB/10%bleach) controls, comprised each challenge plate. Viscous ionic liquidswere heated to 60° C. prior to challenge plate setup. The edges of theplate/lid were covered with parafilm.

Step III: The biofilms were challenged at 37° C., 225 RPM.

Assay Processing

Step IV: Following ionic liquid challenge, the biofilms were washed with200 uL/well LB, briefly, at room temperature, and then set aside fordilution.

Step V: The biofilms were then placed onto another 96-well plate with200 uL/well LB. 200 uL LB was added to all wells of the plate,regardless of challenge plate layout. The edges of the plate/lid werecovered with parafilm; and the wash plate was set aside for dilution.The biofilms were sonicated, at room temperature, using a Misonix® 3000fitted with a microplate horn. DI water is added to the horn so that thewater level touches the bottom of the plate. Sonication proceeds for 1hour at an output level of 0.5, 3 seconds on, 3 seconds off. (Note:total sonication time is therefore 30 minutes).

Step VI: While sonication proceeded, sample wells from the challenge andwash plates were transferred to the “A” rows of 96-well dilution plates(which were set up in advance), as follows:

-   -   a. Challenge plate: 100 uL per challenge well was transferred to        row “A” of a dilution plate, which contained 100 uL sterile        1×PBS.

Rows B-H contained 180 uL sterile Millipore water. Challengesolutions/PBS was mixed by pipetting up and down at least 10×.

-   -   b. Wash plate: 200 uL (total volume) per wash well was        transferred to row “A” of a dilution plate. Rows B-H contained        180 uL sterile Millipore water.

Step VII: After challenge and wash samples were transferred to row “A”of their respective dilution plates, each well was serially diluted1:10, vertically. 20 uL/well was transferred into 180 uL, using amultichannel pipettor, and mixed 10×. Row “H” was a 10-7 dilution of thesample in row “A”.

Step VIII: The sonicated samples were transferred and diluted in thesame way as the wash samples.

Step IX: Remaining liquid volume was discarded from the challenge andproperly decontaminated and disposed.

Recovery Plating

Step X: After all samples were diluted, dilutions were plated onto largeLB agar plates (plates were at room temperature). Using an theconcentrated (A), 10-2 (C), 10-4 (E), and 10-6 (G) dilutions of one rowwere mixed 3-5× using a pipettor (8-channel pipettor with a pipette tipon every other position); then 15 uL spots were transferred to largeagar plate. This was repeated for the 10-1 (B), 10-3 (D), 10-5 (F), and10-7 (H) dilutions.

Up to six samples, diluted to 10-7, each (resulting from 2 samples intriplicate) were plated onto one large agar plate.

Step XI: The spots were allowed to dry so that they did not runtogether, prior to inverting the agar plates. The plates were coverswith parafilm, and incubated overnight at 37° C., inverted.

Analysis

Step XII: Agar plates were removed from incubation. For each sampledilution set, colonies were counted in spots that contain 20-200colonies. The number of colonies and dilution factor was recorded.

Step XIII: Then cfu/mL was calculated as follows:

a. Challenge samples: (number of colonies)×(dilution factor)/0.015 mL×2

b. Wash/sonication samples: (number of colonies)×(dilution factor)/0.015mL

Step XIV: The average cfu/mL was calculated for triplicates.

Step XV: The standard deviation for the population (thepopulation=triplicates) was calculated (e.g. stdev.p in Excel).

Repeat

Step XVI: The Challenge assay was repeated, beginning with biofilmgrowth. The average cfu/mL and stdev.p for the duplicategrowth/challenge assay was calculated, and then the average cfu/mL andstdev.p for all 6 samples resulting from duplicate growth/challengeassays was calculated.

Results and Discussion

Lipophilicity

Table 3 provides lipophilicity date for a variety of ILs in terms oftheir octanol/water partition coefficients.

TABLE 3 Lipophilicity data for ILs log percent in concentration P_(o/w)octanol of assay (M) BMP-NTf2 (1) −0.40 20% +/− 7%    0.2Bze-ZnCl2-BMP-NTf2 (2) 1.34 96 +/− 6% 0.0001 choline malonate (5) −0.2635 +/− 5% 0.01 urea-choline (6) −0.51 24 +/− 8% 0.01 HMIM-Cl (7) 0.04 52+/− 9% 0.01 choline-NTf2 (12) 0.31 67 +/− 9% 0.05 choline hexanoate (13)0.03 51 +/− 2% 0.01 choline oleate (14) 1.32 95 +/− 3% 0.0005[PC₁₄H₂₉(C₆H₁₃)₃][oleate] 1.14 93 +/− 2% 0.01 (19)[PC₁₄H₂₉(C₆H₁₃)₃][hexanoate] 0.26  65 +/− 14% 0.01 (20) choline geranate1:2 (21) 0.28 66 +/− 3% 0.05 [PC₁₄H₂₉(C₆H₁₃)₃][geranate] 0.86 88 +/− 6%0.01 (22) mineral oil 0.95 90 +/− 3% 0.01

The lipophilicity of the materials under consideration was determined interms of their water-octanol distribution coefficients. The oleicacid/choline DES and the Bze-ZnCl₂—BMP-NTf₂ IL partitioned mostefficiently into octanol, with 95% and 96% of the DES moving into theoctanol layer after 1 min of agitation. Bze-ZnCl₂-BMP-NTf₂ contains a1:1 by weight mixture of BMP-NTf₂ and a Bze-(ZnCl₂)₂ IL made from twoequivalents of zinc chloride and one equivalent of benzethoniumchloride. Lovejoy, K. S., et al., “Utilization of Metal Halide SpeciesAmbiguity to Develop Amorphous, Stabilized Pharmaceutical Agents AsIonic Liquids”, Crystal Growth & Design, 12(11): 5357-5364 (2012). Thereason for the large difference between the log Po/w of BMP-NTf (˜0.4)and that of BZBN (1.34) is that BMP-NTf₂ formed a third phase when incontact with water and octanol. At a starting concentration of 0.2 M inoctanol, the percentage of BMP-NTf₂ in the water phase was 51% and thepercentage not incorporated in octanol or water was 29%. Lipophilicitycan be referenced to other accounts, specifically of choline-naphthenic“ILs”, which actually are 1:1 from choline hydroxide. Yu, Y., et al.,“Biodegradable naphthenic acid ionic liquids: synthesis,characterization, and quantitative structure-biodegradationrelationship”, Chem.—Eur. J., 14(35): p. 11174-11182 (2008).

Proliferation and Cytotoxicity

Table 4 provides WST results after 24 hr. In the case where lower limitsare given, the solubility of the material precluded a proper IC₅₀ value.

TABLE 4 WST Results for ILs IC₅₀ at 24 h (mM) BMP-NTf2 >>2urea-choline >10 choline-malonate >>2 HMIM-Cl 10.03 choline-hexanoate4.57 chol-NTf2 1.7 chol-ol/chol-hex 1.5 choline oleate 0.034 BZBN 0.013

Cytotoxicity in Primary Human Cells

The toxicity of the materials in primary human cells was tested innormal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells. This study was performedwith IL and DES dilutions, not neat ILs/DESs, because it was intended tomodel toxicity upon absorption into the bloodstream. All materials weretested at concentrations of 2.0, 0.8, 0.3, 0.1, 0.05, 0.02, and 0.008mM. Because of their high solubility in the culture medium, HMIM-Cl andcholine-hexanoate were also tested at concentrations up to 500 mM and 30mM, respectively. The most toxic materials were choline oleate(IC50=0.034 mM) and BZBN (IC50=0.013 mM) and the least toxic materialswere urea-choline (IC50>10 mM) and HMIM-Cl (IC50=10 mM).

The toxicity of the solubilized ionic liquids was found to correspondwell with the toxicity of the individual cation and anion components.Specifically, the more toxic components (benzethonium chloride and oleicacid) give rise to toxic DESs and ILs and the less toxic components(choline chloride and urea) produce a less toxic DES. Considering NHBEcell toxicity as well as biofilm efficacy results, choline-hexanoate,choline malonate, and HMIM-Cl had the largest “therapeutic windows.”They were effective when used neat against biofilms, and have lowtoxicity to human primary cells in culture medium. This may be importantfor treating large open wounds where IL dissolution occurs rapidly.Alternatively, ILs that are toxic to cells after dissolution may be usedtopically or in situations where dissolution of the IL is slower. Ionicliquids that were very toxic to primary human cells in solution,including choline oleate and BZBN, also partitioned well into octanol, atrend that is also documented in toxicological literature.

Applied neat, these results may suggest that dissolution for toxicmaterials may be very slow limiting toxicity even on large open wounds.Materials that had low toxicity to human cells also partitioned poorlyinto octanol, as was found for urea-choline, choline malonate, andBMP-NTf₂.

Viscosity, Density, Conductivity, and Ionic Strength

Viscosity, Conductivity, and calculations of molarity and ionic strengthfor various ILs are provided in Table 5.

TABLE 5 ILs Viscosity, Conductivity, Molarity, and Ionic Strength ILionic (corresponding viscosity density conductivity molarity strengthmolecular number) (cP) (g/mL) (mS/cm) (M) (M) weight BMP-NTf2 (1)  72.72 1.39 1.99 3.28 3.28 422.4 Bze-ZnCl2-BMP- 8176  1.40 0.026 0.972.44 1439 NTf2 (2) choline malonate   920.1 1.27 0.429 5.20 5.20 243.7(5) urea-choline (6) 1386^(a ) 1.21 0.580^(a) 4.65 2.32 259.7 HMIM-Cl(7)   679.5 1.01 0.340 4.96 4.96 202.7 choline-NTf2 125 1.54 1.460 4.404.40 348.9 (12) choline hexanoate   180.9 1.01 0.816 3.02 3.02 334.5(13) choline oleate    162.3^(b) 0.98 0.0871^(b) 1.47 1.47 667.1 (14)[PC₁₄H₂₉(C₆H₁₃)₃] 300 0.882 0.0162 1.15 1.24 765.27 [oleate] (19)[PC₁₄H₂₉(C₆H₁₃)₃] 154 0.912 0.488 1.63 1.63 559.02 [hexanoate] (20)choline geranate 1345  0.990 0.0431 2.26 3.39 438.63 1:2 (21)[PC₁₄H₂₉(C₆H₁₃)₃]   122.3 0.931 0.156 1.43 1.43 651.09 [geranate] (22)mineral oil  35 0.80 0.000 2.00 0.00 400.0

Ionic liquids produced with tetradecyltrihexylphosphonium as the cationresult in viscosities of 300, 154, and 122 cP, all of which are higherthan that of the parent IL, tetradecyltrihexylphosphonium chloride, butin the same order of magnitude. This large cation determines theviscosity of ILs made from a wide range of anions. Del Sesto, R. E., etal., “Tetraalkylphosphonium-based ionic liquids”, Journal ofOrganometallic Chemistry, 690(10): 2536-2542 (2005). The deep eutecticsolvents (DES) made from choline and two equivalents of carboxylic acidhad viscosities ranging from 162 cP for choline oleate to 1390 cP forurea-choline, suggesting that the carboxylic acid component is moreimportant than the choline component in determining viscosity. Theviscosity of urea-choline at 40° C. was 170 cP and matched theliterature value at 40° C. of 169 cP. Abbott, A. P., et al., “Design ofimproved deep eutectic solvents using hole theory”, ChemPhysChem, 7(4):p. 803-806 (2006).

Conductivities of these DESs ranged from 0.04 mS/cm for choline geranateto 0.816 mS/cm for choline hexanoate.

The densities of choline-based DESs formed with two equivalents ofcarboxylate ranged from 0.98 g/mL for choline oleate to 1.27 g/mL forcholine malonate. These densities are similar to those measured for the2/1 glucose/choline DES of 1.27 g/mL. Hayyan, A., et al., “Glucose-baseddeep eutectic solvents: Physical properties”, Journal of MolecularLiquids, 178: 137-141 (2013). The densities of known ionic liquids,BMP-NTf₂, urea-choline, and choline-NTf₂ matched literature values, asindicated in the synthetic methods section.

Skin Transport

The transport enhancement of a panel of ionic liquids (ILs) listed inTable 2 was tested. The IL panel was first screened using 3H-Mannitol.The results are illustrated in FIG. 2A.

Three distinct transport regimes emerged depending on the ILemployed: 1) Drug retention in the donor solution. 2) Enhancedlocalization and retention within the SC, epidermis, and dermis. 3)Enhanced transdermal penetration through all layers of the skin and intothe acceptor solution. In particular, LANL-6 and LANL-13 inhibited drugpermeation into the SC. LANL-14 enhanced transport up to 5 fold into thedeep tissue layers while showing no additional loss to the acceptorsolution. LANL-19 enhanced transport 5-10 fold into all layers of theskin. Similar to LANL-14, no additional loss of solute to the acceptorsolution was observed. LANL-21 enhanced penetration through all layersof the skin 5-15 fold and also enhanced partitioning into the acceptorsolution. Moreover, when spiked with a model antibiotic, Cefadroxil,partitioning into the dermis and acceptor solution was 15-20 timesgreater than the control (PBS). See FIG. 2B. LANL-14, 19, 20, and 22were tested as well and all showed similar total drug enhancement.

Biofilm Efficacy

Efficacy of ILs against Pseudomonas and Salmonella was tested. All ILstested showed anti-biofilm activity although at varying degrees. 72 hrfilms were more resistant to disruption/killing by ILs (except IL2) andcontrols. FIGS. 4 and 5. Several ILs are more effective against biofilmsthan 10% bleach. FIG. 4B. Species specific differential IL efficacy mayexist. This can be seen in the plots of Pseudomonas vs. Salmonella. SeeFIG. 4C. Data suggests that ionic liquids have the potential to disruptbacterial biofilm EPS and kill pathogenic bacteria. See FIGS. 4 and 5.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meanings as commonly understood by one of skill in the artto which the disclosed invention belongs. Publications cited herein andthe materials for which they are cited are specifically incorporated byreference.

Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain usingno more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specificembodiments of the invention described herein. Such equivalents areintended to be encompassed by the following claims.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A method of delivering a therapeutic agent to orthrough the skin of an individual, comprising administering to the skinof the individual a composition comprising (a) a deep eutectic solventconsisting of a cationic component and an anionic component and (b) thetherapeutic agent, wherein the anionic component is selected from thegroup consisting of bistriflimide, a geranate anion, oleate, hexanoate,dodecyldimethyl ammonia propane sulfonate, N-Lauryl sarconsinate, andgeraniolate, wherein the cationic component is selected from the groupconsisting of benzyl pyridinium, benzyl dimethyl dodecyl ammonium, acholine cation, phosphonium, tetraalkylphosphonium, and benzethonium,and wherein the deep eutectic solvent has a melting point lower than themelting points of the cationic component and anionic componentindividually.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein at least one of theanionic component and cationic component is irritating to the skin whenapplied in the absence of the other component.
 23. The method of claim21, wherein the anionic component is the geranate anion.
 24. The methodof claim 21, wherein the cationic component is the choline cation andthe anionic component is the geranate anion.
 25. The method of claim 21,wherein the cationic component and the anionic component are in a molarratio ranging from 1:1 to 1:2 (cationic component to anionic component).26. The method of claim 21, wherein the deep eutectic solvent is cholinegeranate.
 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the cationic component andthe anionic component are in a molar ratio ranging from 1:1 to 1:2(cationic component to anionic component).
 28. The method of claim 21,wherein the composition is administered to an infection, a cut, a burn,or a rash on the skin of the individual.
 29. The method of claim 21,wherein the composition treats a disease or disorder on the skin of theindividual.
 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the disease or disorderis selected from the group consisting of atopic dermatitis, acne, wound,rash, folliculitis, furunculosis, and carbunculosis fungal infection.31. The method of claim 21, wherein the therapeutic agent is a smallmolecule or a macromolecule.
 32. The method of claim 31, wherein themacromolecule is a protein.
 33. The method of claim 21, wherein thetherapeutic agent is irritating to the skin of the individual whenapplied in the absence of the deep eutectic solvent.
 34. The method ofclaim 21, wherein the composition is in a form of a film, a depot, apatch, a cream, or a lotion.
 35. A composition comprising (a) a deepeutectic solvent consisting of a cationic component and an anioniccomponent, and (b) a therapeutic agent, wherein the anionic component isselected from the group consisting of bistriflimide, a geranate anion,oleate, hexanoate, dodecyldimethyl ammonia propane sulfonate, N-Laurylsarconsinate, and geraniolate, wherein the cationic component isselected from the group consisting of benzyl pyridinium, benzyl dimethyldodecyl ammonium, a choline cation, phosphonium, tetraalkylphosphonium,and benzethonium, and wherein the deep eutectic solvent has a meltingpoint lower than the melting points of the cationic component andanionic component individually.
 36. The composition of claim 35, whereinat least one of the anionic component and cationic component isirritating to the skin of an individual when applied in the absence ofthe other component.
 37. The composition of claim 35, wherein theanionic component is the geranate anion.
 38. The composition of claim35, wherein the cationic component is the choline cation and the anioniccomponent is the geranate anion.
 39. The composition of claim 35,wherein the cationic component and the anionic component are in a molarratio ranging from 1:1 to 1:2 (cationic component to anionic component).40. The composition of claim 35, wherein the deep eutectic solvent ischoline geranate.
 41. The composition of claim 40, wherein the cationiccomponent and the anionic component are in a molar ratio ranging from1:1 to 1:2 (cationic component to anionic component).
 42. Thecomposition of claim 35, wherein the therapeutic agent is a smallmolecule or a macromolecule.
 43. The composition of claim 42, whereinthe macromolecule is a protein.
 44. The composition of claim 35, whereinthe therapeutic agent is irritating to the skin of an individual whenapplied in the absence of the deep eutectic solvent.
 45. The compositionof claim 35, wherein the composition is in a form of a film, a depot, apatch, a cream, or a lotion.